Purpose 

The purpose of the Mental Health Program is to achieve the best mental health status for all Belizeans by providing services to prevent and reduce the incidence of mental illness. This is acomplished by providing adequate delivery of accessible, efficient, cost effective and user friendly psychiatric services. 

Objectives

1. Promote and protect the human rights of people with mental disorders.

2. Establish quality community-based mental health care as the foundation of the system, and integrate mental health care into primary, secondary and tertiary levels of the health care system.

3. Provide acute psychiatric care within general hospitals and provide effective rehabilitation services in community settings.

4. Sensitize communities to mental health issues and change negative perceptions.

5. Advocate for adequate financial support for improvement of mental health services.

6. Offer equitable access to quality treatment (availability of medications, qualified staff, and treatment free at the point of provision) for the population.

7. Provide quality and specialized services to identify and treat childhood mental disorders.

8. Strengthen the collection, analysis, and use of mental health information for evidence-based decision-making at all levels and for monitoring and evaluation of relevant programs and services.

9. Strengthen decentralization of decision-making, resources and services for mental health care, allowing for greater participation at the primary and community levels.

10. Implement promotion and prevention programs for at-risk populations and the general population in understanding the impact of social and environmental factors on mental health.